Search results

This study aims to discover whether COVID-19 phobia has a positive and significant effect on the stress, depression and anxiety levels of industrial consumers in addition to reveal whether environmental awareness plays a mediating role between COVID-19 phobia and stress, depression and anxiety.

In this study, a quantitative method was used to reveal the role of anxiety, depression and stress (psychological effects) and environmental awareness caused by covid-19 phobia on industrial consumers. The universe of the study is small and medium-sized enterprises operating in the province of Sanliurfa, which is located in the southeast region of Turkey and the second largest city in the region, and are industrial customers. Questionnaire method was used in the study. In addition, data were collected from 406 people who agreed to participate in the study. In the study, in which intermediary and regulatory analyzes were made, the process macro program was used.

The results show that there is a medium relationship between COVID-19 phobia and environmental awareness; and COVID-19 phobia and stress, depression and anxiety. No relationship was found between environmental awareness and stress, depression and anxiety. COVID-19 phobia was found to have a positive and significant effect on environmental awareness and stress, depression and anxiety, while environmental awareness was found to have no effect on stress, depression and anxiety. Finally, environmental awareness was found to play a mediating role between COVID-19 phobia and stress, depression and anxiety.

In this study, four hypotheses were developed. Of these hypotheses, three are for the simple effect and one for the mediation effect. Out of four hypotheses, three were supported. The most important inference obtained from the study was finding the mediation effect of environmental awareness between COVID-19 phobia and anxiety, depression and stress.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no studies in the literature were made on the relationship among COVID-19 phobia, environmental awareness, stress, depression and anxiety. This study also examines the mediating effect of environmental awareness in the relationship between COVID-19 phobia and stress, depression and anxiety. The fact that the study is on the negative effects of the pandemic on one of the most affected occupational group also increases its original value.

This study aims to reveal both the effect of the perception of COVID-19 on avoidance behaviors and the mediating role of the perception of personal control in this relationship. COVID-19 emerged in December 2019 and since then, it has spread globally in a short period and has affected people socially, economically and culturally.

The data for the research was collected from 418 participants during COVID-19, through online questionnaires. The obtained data were analyzed through AMOS and SPSS software using structural equation modeling.

The research results show that some perceptions of COVID-19 affect avoidance behavior and that personal control has a mediating role. It has also been found that gender plays a moderating role in the relationship between COVID-19 and avoidance behavior. It has been found that women are especially more sensitive compared to men in perceiving COVID-19. This study also found that perception of COVID-19 changes depending on income.

After the pandemic is over, people will get in contact with each other less than before, and trade will change accordingly. People will avoid shopping in crowded places, and consumer behaviors will undergo different changes. All of these results considered, it is expected that avoidance behavior will cause some permanent behavioral changes in consumers.

The study answers the critical question about the effect of the perception of COVID-19 on avoidance behavior. Furthermore, the role of income level, gender and education in this relationship will be highlighted.